2010 Field Trials: Dallas Arboretum

Lobularia ‘Snow Princess’ Proven Winners Planted: 5/27/2010(Ground & Container) What a plant! This Alyssum is covered in fragrant white flowers that spread 18″, and it really holds up to the heat! A must have spring through fall. This vegetative cultivar is perfect for a container or the landscape. Took the heat all summer long.

Top 5 Varieties Overall:

1. Euphorbia ‘White Manaus’ GroLink Planted: 5/27/2010 (Ground & Container) There have been several new cultivars over the last few seasons, but in a side to side comparison ‘White Manaus’ stands out. Bright white flowers that cascade this 2 foot tall Euphorbia. Great in both containers or in the landscape!

2. Gerbera ‘Drakensberg Daisy’ Series Plug Connection Planted: 5/27/2010 (Ground) I never thought that I would love a Gerbera in this region, but I have been converted! This series does not have issues with chlorosis and continues to bloom throughout our Texas summer heat. ‘Drakensberg Orange’ is the color that really stands out. The new era of Gerbera is here!

3. Petunia ‘Soleil Purple’ Selecta Planted: 3/15/2010 (Container) ‘Soleil Purple’ is a Petunia unlike any other! This is a drought tolerant cultivar with wiry stiff foliage and small double purple flowers. ‘Soleil Purple’ has out lasted any other Petunia in trials the last two seasons by two or more months. If you have given up on Petunia give this one a try, just don’t over water it.

4. Echinacea ‘Hot Papaya’ Plant Noveau Planted: 2009 (Perennial) (Ground) This is a must have in any landscape. ‘Hot Papaya’ is a mop head Echinacea covered with bright red to orange mango flowers early spring and will re-bloom throughout the summer if dead headed.

5. Salvia ‘Wendy’s Wish’ Skagit Planted: 5/27/2010 (Ground) This salvia was one of our favorites in the Trial Garden for the last 2 years. ‘Wendy’s Wish’ is vigorous and covered in fuchsia pink flowers early spring through summer and grows to 4’x 4′ in a season.

Planting Dates: 5/1-5/24/2010

Number Of Entries: 979 Total entries

Number Of Containers: 630 Total number of summer container trials

Number Of In-Ground Plantings: 1116 Total number of summer landscape trials

April and May showed usual weather patterns, with temperatures in the mid 80’s and the normal amount of rainfall. June arrived and temperatures started to rise to the mid 90’s with very little rainfall. There was no sign of rain the July and temperatures really started to raise, into the high 90’s with very little relief after sun set. Since August 1st we have been over 100 degrees with no sign of rain or a break in temperature.

What will be the next big perennial? Breeders say it takes more than a splashy plant to distinguish itself in the market. Therefore, the question is not what will be the next big perennial, but rather what perennial performs well enough in the garden to have staying power in the market for years to come.

The industry's goal is to have loyal customers who return to the same plants time and time again, not because of price, but owing to a plant brand that shouts top-notch garden performance and is synonymous with excellence, which gives them the secure knowledge that their investment will be worth every hard-earned cent.

The annual Season Premier at Costa Farms in Miami, Fla., is the industry's very first peek at new varieties for debut the following year, even before the California Spring Trials, heralded widely as the jumping off point for new varieties. This year's event revealed breeders' best and brightest new varieties for 2016, shown in field trials, landscape trials and containers at Costa Farms tropical trial gardens. Plant breeders presented their new varieties to buyers and members of Lowe’s grower panel. Growers, brokers and other allied industry members, including Home Depot growers and buyers, were also able to peruse the grounds to see how the new varieties fared in the winter trials. Later this season, the hot and humid conditions at Costa’s summer trials will help identify the true performers.

All-America Selections has announced more 2015 AAS Winners, bringing the grand total of introductions for the 2015 gardening year to 25. The seven winners join the 12 announced last November and six announced last July. This year, AAS has had the most winners in one year since 1939.